The Paperweight

Tomorrow I go back to work. It seems time has gone by too fast. I have so much to think about and to be grateful for. When I left, or rather was forced to leave because of preterm labor, I had no idea what was in store for me. For the month before she was born I was was made to sit still...or at least told to. I managed to clean, to edit photos and as many of you know, to blog. I thought that this was the version of taking it easy that I would have to get used to. Then the paperweight arrived. For as much as I had thought I couldn't do anything before she was born, coupled with a csection, Adalynn Elizabeth-the cutest, prettiest paperweight arrived, and a new type of slowing down began. Every time I even tried to get up...to clean...to blog, to just take a shower, I was forced to sit down. (Ok...the shower is an exaggeration.) For anyone that has a newborn, you know the floppy head and seemingly fragile body demand both hands and all of your attention. I eventually stopped fighting the urge to take care of everything else and just embraced the 9 pounds of snuggly baby that forced me to sit still and take it easy. The months following her birth have been filled with highs, like Adalynn smiling (best thing ever) and sleeping through the night (second best thing ever) to lows, like multiple surgeries and a hospital stay, but as a result of this little paperweight that made me take it easy...I learned a lot about myself, my family and my life.

10 Lessons from the paperweight

#1. I like to read- I forgot how much I like to read. I read five books during my maternity leave- Cold Tangerines (Absolute must!), The Help, The Fabric of Friendship, A Gift From the Sea, and Saltwater Cowboys. That doesn't include all the children's books I read which are often more interesting and profound than any "mature" readings. Don't believe me?...I highly recommend The Night You Were Born. I still smile and cry every time I read it.

#2. I like to write- Blogging during those first few weeks got me back into something I used to do more often. I found myself during nighttime feedings jotting ideas down on my phone. Writing is fun and there are so many things to write about with a newborn.

#3. I like routine- My favorite part of the day is Adalynns bathtime, cuddle time and the last feeding of the night. I enjoy knowing that we have that time to count on if nothing else has been the same all day. Routines are also great, especially for babies, when mom suddenly can't be there and someone needs to get her to sleep. Thank you routine- You saved us all.

#4. My husband has a great job- When Sean started DeFrehn Consulting almost 10 years ago, he had foresight that not only could he help people make better financial decisions by being an independent financial advisor, but that he could also be there for his family more if he owned his own business. As a result, he has been through every bit of the last four months with me and I couldn't be more grateful that I did not have to go it alone and that we could experience it together.

#5. Family Vacations are necessary- Heading to Chincoteague, VA for a few days gave us new insight on ourselves and each other. (Adalynn also slept for the first time through the night all three nights- Salt air is good for everyone.)

#6. I like nurseries- I swear, nurseries are the most peaceful places on earth-Even with a screaming baby, nothing beats the calm and soothing feel of a nursery. The soft music, the fuzzy blankets, the smell of baby lotion, the stars on the ceiling. Why don't we always make such calm and restful places to sleep?

#7. Life moves quickly- There is nothing that makes you realize how fast life goes than a growing baby. Instead of packing away the newborn clothes for next summer, you pack theme away for another baby knowing this little one will never be that small again.

#8. My husband is awesome- (Yes another husband one...but he is!) He does diaper duty in the middle of the night, is an excellent "Papparoo" and coupled with Adalynn is my whole world. I couldn't imagine a better dad for my sweet girl.

#9. I love being a Mom- Nothing can explain it. Nothing is like it and nothing beats it.

So tomorrow I head back. I know a lot more than I did before I left... but most importantly I learned #10- Life is a blessing and if I need a reminder...paperweights are best.

Vacation: Part 2

One of the best parts of being at the beach, is after a long day of hanging out in the sun, going home taking a shower and then heading right back. Deserted from the busy day, the quiet combined with the sunset and cooler temperatures on sunburned skin, make evening time so peaceful. We took Adalynn back to the beach one evening to take a walk and look for sea shells. Of course I wanted a picture...or two...especially a family photo. With nobody out at the beach we stretched out are arm and caught the last photo. I think it will always be one of my favorites:)

First Family Vacation

Last week we went on a family vacation to Chincoteague Island, VA. Sean and I had not been there since we were kids, but when we found out there was a place with last minute availability we thought we would give it a shot. (When we say last minute...we booked Friday and were there Sunday.) It was fabulous. I do not know if the fact that it was last minute made it so enjoyable, or the fact that we have literally spent the last 3 months inside or in a hospital, but regardless...it was amazing. We stayed at a place right on the bay and within walking distance to old town Chincoteague. Old town included an independent bookstore, a local wine shop and a delicious small town bakery. Our first night we took a walk around town and then caught the gorgeous sunset on our dock. We spent the next morning catching crabs (what we ended up doing every morning) and then headed to the beach. Adalynn loved the beach. She wasn't as sure about the water at first, but eventually enjoyed it like she does our pool. She was such a trooper. Adalynn even fished (see above). This was Dad's highlight. That and the three dozen jumbo crabs we caught. Mom's highlight....Adalynn sleeping all three nights for 10 hours or more!!!

In all, we ate lots, laughed lots and loved even more.

Being a family is the best!

It was a perfect first family vacation.

Big Girl!

When Adalynn was born, it seemed, like every baby, all she did was eat, sleep and need a diaper change. The sleeping was nice...for her...though we can't complain...she was basically on a schedule from the second week. However, the past few weeks have been more and more fun. I think we are officially out of the sleepy newborn stage and into happy baby phase. She is smiling and cooing up a storm. Sean and I woke up the other morning to her just giggling to herself awake and happy. She is holding her head up and is just cracking us up with her expressions and how she enjoys the world:) She is turning into such a big girl and we are loving every minute of it.

(Thanks Aunt Luann for this fun chair!! )

Fathers and the Fourth

Adalynn has been learning all about fun parties in the last month! From Father's Day to Daddy's Birthday to the fourth we have had so much to celebrate! Crab feasts and cook outs, we have been enjoying it all. Adalynn even made it through the fireworks that we watched just a block from our house. We love summer!

The Hair

When Adalynn was born, she had hair. Lots of hair...and two months later...she STILL has hair. It is much thicker in the back than the front, but Sean and I can't get enough of her curly little tuff that keeps growing on top. I of course am super excited about her curls:) She'll hate me for it later, but I can't get enough of it!

Celebrating and Healing

Well I expected to have quite a few more blog posts now. In fact, I expected a lot. I have however learned in the past few weeks you have to just go with it and really as much as I plan, things are not in my hands.

The past few weeks have been filled with both celebrating and healing. Celebrating life and our new family and healing both physically, mentally and spiritually. The first weeks of Adalynn's life have not gone exactly as I had planned. The c-section certainly caught me off guard, but the continued pain followed was unexpected. I assumed that this pain was normal, only to find out it was the beginning of another problem. Among all of this were birthdays, and family events and my desire to get back into the swing of things that made me ignore what was going on. It took cuddling my sweet girl and being in excruciating pain to make me realize something wasn't right. The rest is history and now we are healing.

Sean and I are so thankful for everyone's thoughts and prayers. I am certainly disappointed that my first few weeks with my girl have been spent in hospitals and doctors offices, but we are so excited about the summer ahead. We have been reminded that things are not in our hands and while we have had to take more time to heal than expected, we have been blessed with lots to celebrate.